If you suffer from spring allergies, acupuncture offers a way to both strengthen your body and alleviate your symptoms without all the side effects of medication.
The temperature outside and the forecasts for snow make it seem like spring will never arrive. However, warmer weather will be here before we know it and we’ll all be anxious to get back to outdoor activities. For many, spring can be a season of misery with itchy, watery eyes, congestion, sneezing, coughing, and fatigue. Those are just a few of the symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you suffer in the spring, you probably reach for the antihistamines once you notice the beginning signs of allergies. Few of us think about preventative measures during the winter months when everything is dormant. But now is an ideal time to start acupuncture treatments to alleviate spring allergies and enjoy the warmer weather once it arrives.
An allergy is an excessive reaction by the immune system to a substance that is normally harmless. These substances are called “allergens.” Typical allergens in the spring include pollen, ragweed, and mold. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an allergic reaction is a manifestation of the body’s difficulty to adjust to its environment. Therefore, we treat the allergic person, not the allergies. From a TCM point of view, allergies are often due to a deficiency of the Lung and Liver’s Defensive-Qi systems. The Lung Qi is the first organ to come into contact with the allergens and, in a weakened state, becomes vulnerable to them. The Liver Qi helps the body adapt to its environment. If the Liver Qi is compromised, an exaggerated response to the allergens will occur and you’ll start to see symptoms like congestion, sneezing, etc. The vitality of the Spleen Qi and Kidney Qi may also need to be treated, as they directly influence both the Lung and Liver Qi. Treatment plans are individualized to alleviate acute symptoms, while addressing the underlying immune system imbalance.
How Does Acupuncture Help? By stimulating the energy of the Lung Qi and regulating the Liver Qi, acupuncture treatments help calm the exaggerated response to spring allergens. When your symptoms are not present, treatment will aim to balance and strengthen the identified disharmonies that contribute to your allergy issues. Acupuncture treatments have both preventative and therapeutic aspect. That’s why early treatment during the winter months can help before symptoms kick in later. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” really rings true when treating seasonal allergies with acupuncture.
If you suffer from spring allergies, acupuncture offers a way to both strengthen your body and alleviate your symptoms without all the side effects of medication. Don’t spend another spring missing out on all the outdoor activities you enjoy! Contact Brad Hill Wellness at 301-639-9759 to schedule your individualized consultation.
